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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It’s a Parking One…

87 replies

ifherbumwereabungalow · 09/03/2023 18:34

Apologies in an advance, long term lurker, very infrequent poster. I am also peri-menopausal as all hell and seem to be permanently simmering with rage.

Image shows deeds to our house. The red line encompasses our property line which extends the same width as our drive around the back of the fence at the rear of our property. Our neighbour has started parking within the area, overnight yesterday and tonight. We’ve fallen out with another neighbour whose son started parking there regularly, even though we sent a very polite note saying that we didn’t mind occasionally but could he please ask first.

Neighbour who has now started parking there is in a slight huff with me because she had parked a hire van in such a way as it blocked me entering the parking area and I had to ask her to move it, hence the sudden choosing to park within the space. We only have one car nowadays due to us both working from home so the area only really gets used when we have visitors.

I would like to ask her politely not to use the space without checking with us first but, as stated, we have been burned by doing this before. We are very polite, quiet and considerate neighbours but I feel like this means people think they can walk all over us.

Can anyone suggest a way of wording a note that is polite but firm? I am aware that this is a non-event is the wider scheme of things but it’s really winding me up!

It’s a Parking One…
OP posts:
PragmaticWench · 09/03/2023 18:36

Is there anything on the ground, such as a type of flooring, that marks out your land beyond where your fence sits? I'm assuming the thin black line next to her car is your fence?

Original poster
ifherbumwereabungalow · 09/03/2023 18:38

Thanks for responding so quickly. There's nothing on the ground to mark out the area. Yes, the thin black line next to her car is our fence.

OP posts:
pawz · 09/03/2023 18:40

Can you get a few nice plant pots and pop them there? Something that makes it clear it's owned land and not spare land? Or perhaps park your car there a few times - if they mention it you can say it's your property?

Youfeelme · 09/03/2023 18:41

I cant really visualise this, how do they get to that parking space? Do they actually know its yours?

PragmaticWench · 09/03/2023 18:41

I'm not sure how anyone would know it's your land, without something marking it out. Is there a reason it's not fenced, or marked out? However, you should tell her and I wouldn't offer for her to park there at all, even if she asks first, as that always leads to people being cheeky. Just say no.

rothbury · 09/03/2023 18:42

Can you put a double gate there?

BlueHeelers · 09/03/2023 18:42

YANBU but I think you need to do something which indicates it’s your land. From your diagram, I would find it hard to realise that it’s your land.

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/03/2023 18:43

I’m imagining a period property where cars all have to access around the back. I think it’s unlikely your neighbours know this is your land so perhaps it would be a good idea to mark it

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/03/2023 18:43

Posted too soon

…mark it out somehow.

Guis23 · 09/03/2023 18:45

Fence. Or something to show it is yours. You don't want to allow others to use your property or land lest they argue they can claim adverse possession by the face they have looked after it and used it ( does take years ). But technically possible. You have to be seen to own your space.

Campervangirl · 09/03/2023 18:47

Don't bother with a note, CF's will take offence whatever you do.
Buy a couple of penguin bollards £26 each in Halfords.
You can YouTube how to install them or pay someone to do it, local handyman?
No need for a note or an awkward conversation.
Good luck, I love a parking thread 😉

Original poster
ifherbumwereabungalow · 09/03/2023 18:49

Thanks everyone. It's difficult to explain so I will try to do a diagram but it's an area behind all the houses with separate garages and one parking spot per car for the other houses. Our house is the only one with an integral garage. There is a management company who sort out the green areas so I might need to ask if there is some way we can mark the area out to show its a continuation of our driveway.

I really don't mind when work vans and the like have parked there as long as we don't have any guests because parking is at a premium, thinking about it I think I actually put a note explaining the situation when I didn't know it was hers. Her husband was really apologetic and it was all good and friendly so it seems strange that she has suddenly decided that it's now her parking spot!

OP posts:
rothbury · 09/03/2023 18:50

Of course!!

Penguin Bollards!!!

FlickFlackTrap · 09/03/2023 18:51

Buy a sign and a clamp and start clamping with a release fee.

Laurama91 · 09/03/2023 18:51

We also used to have this issue at our old house. Had shared drive between us and 1 neighbour. The rest of the drive was access to the other neighbour plus his other neighbour not for parking. But he used to park cars right down the drive which blocked access to another garage. Someone ended up reporting him I believe.

GinIronic · 09/03/2023 18:55

Don't allow anyone to park there - not neighbours or workmen - if it is used as a parking space - that's what people will think it is. Fill it with plants and plastic flamingoes.

Cats23 · 09/03/2023 18:57

Mark it with something- plant pots, bollards and add signs too.

Phillipa12 · 09/03/2023 19:01

I have a very similar set up as in I own a section of land behind my garden. If it's like mine it is classed as common garden ground and cannot be built on or blocked. (I have to let neighbours have right of way over it to access their back garden). My current neighbours are lovely and sometimes either of us park on it. My previous neighbours were dicks and sadly despite leaving notes on the fencing asking it to be kept clear I had to actually speak to them. Sounds like you may have to speak to your neighbour.

Original poster
ifherbumwereabungalow · 09/03/2023 19:01

I'm not sure if I would be allowed to put in penguin bollards but I would love to check them off the parking thread bingo card! I've also seen enough parking threads to know that an actual diagram is obligatory so sincere apologies for the crapness of this one! It's difficult because none of the bays are marked and it's tight back there so any pots would get rammed by people just turning their cars round to get out.

It’s a Parking One…
OP posts:
YukoandHiro · 09/03/2023 19:04

You're definitely not being unreasonable but I would also say.... does it matter? Doesn't look like she's blocking a spectacular view or anything, and it's not like she's actually on your grass

Youfeelme · 09/03/2023 19:06

I agree, YANBU but what does it matter? There's loads more space there and you only have 1 car. Maybe get the floor marked, it's the only way to identify it.

Original poster
ifherbumwereabungalow · 09/03/2023 19:09

YukoandHiro · 09/03/2023 19:04

You're definitely not being unreasonable but I would also say.... does it matter? Doesn't look like she's blocking a spectacular view or anything, and it's not like she's actually on your grass

This is where I am in a dilemma because no, it's doesn't really matter, but I don't want to set a precedent for any and all to park there, making it difficult but not impossible to get on and off our drive. It also means that when I have visitors, they have nowhere to park. I do appreciate what you are saying though!

OP posts:
EmbraceTheGrace · 09/03/2023 19:13

Contact the management company, ask for their advice
This would really irritate me, I'd not allow anyone to park there at all
Would a private property no unauthorised parking sign do the trick do you think ?

SparkyBlue · 09/03/2023 19:14

I'd actually find a note from a close neighbour really passive aggressive and it would annoy me. Id rather they had a quick word with me and explained the situation.

juliettesmother · 09/03/2023 19:14

Does she have her own personal parking spot?

If yes, that I would ask her to kindly park in it .

If not, big pots containing shrubbery.

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